From basic researches to new achievements in therapeutic strategies of KRAS-driven cancers

Abstract

Among the numerous oncogenes involved in human cancers, KRAS represents the most studied and best characterized cancer-related genes. Several therapeutic strategies targeting oncogenic KRAS (KRASonc) signaling pathways have been suggested, including the inhibition of synthetic lethal interactions, direct inhibition of KRASonc itself, blockade of downstream KRASonc effectors, prevention of post-translational KRASonc modifications, inhibition of the induced stem cell-like program, targeting of metabolic peculiarities, stimulation of the immune system, inhibition of inflammation, blockade of upstream signaling pathways, targeted RNA replacement, and oncogene-induced senescence. Despite intensive and continuous efforts, KRASonc remains an elusive target for cancer therapy. To highlight the progress to date, this review covers a collection of studies on therapeutic strategies for KRAS published from 1995 to date. An overview of the path of progress from earlier to more recent insights highlight novel opportunities for clinical development towards KRASonc-signaling targeted therapeutics.

Keywords

• Direct inhibition
• downstream effectors
• oncogenic KRAS
• drug target sites
• small GTPases
• signal transduction
• targeting synthetic, lethal interactions
• therapeutic strategies